Temperature
Trend: SST anomaly (SBC LTER)
Trend: Temperature profile (PnB)
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Time-series of temperature (°C) profiles at Plumes and Blooms sampling station #4 (34°15.01’N, 119°54.38’W, see Figure D6.2) for (a) 1997-2015 and (b) 2009-2015. While station #4 is outside the sanctuary boundary and there are other sampling sites within the sanctuary, it is the only sampling site that collects measurements throughout the water column, versus from just surface waters. This time-depth contour plot was generated via ordinary krigging with a generalized exponential-Bessel fitting model (GLOBEC Kriging Software Package v3.0), with interpolation length scales of 30 days (time axis) and ten meters (depth axis). The time and location of each actual sample are shown as black dots, allowing the observation of periods where data gaps exist. Note: This is variant of a similar figure shown during the expert workshop. For more information, consult Figure App.D.8.4 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.
Acidification
Aragonite saturation
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Aragonite saturations are shown at 75 meters (m) (green), 150 m (blue) and 300 m (red) at Anacapa Island. As pH of seawater decreases (e.g., from the deposition of atmospheric CO2), the saturation state of aragonite (Ωarg) decreases. Aragonite undersaturation (Ωarg < 1) favors dissolution over calcification, making it harder for organisms to make and maintain their shells or skeletons in the case of corals. In coastal upwelling zones, such as the California Current, the aragonite saturation state and depth are variable and shallow, respectively. With ocean acidification, aragonite saturation depths have shoaled over the past three decades and are now typically around 200 m in the California Current (Turi et al. 2016). At the local scale at Anacapa Island, the aragonite saturation depth has hovered around 130 m over the past eight years. As strong of a shoaling trend as at the California Current scale has not been seen. Instead, the usual seasonal variation but relatively stable aragonite saturation states over time (no trend), particularly in deep water, have been seen. For more information, consult Figure App.E.10.29 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.
Harmful Algal Blooms
Trends: Domoic Acid Levels (2012-13)
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Domoic acid levels in parts per million (ppm) in commercially-important crustaceans (triangles) and bivalves (circles) collected from the Santa Barbara Channel between 2012 and 2013 are shown on the y-axis for (A) animals collected near the shore of the mainland coast, and (B) animals collected offshore the mainland coast or near the northern Channel Islands. In the cases that are colored red, domoic acid levels measured above the California Department of Public Health and U.S. Food and Drug Administration action limits: 20 ppm for meat and 30 ppm for viscera. For more information, consult Figure App.D.7.1 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.
Map: Harmful Algal Bloom (2015)
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In May 2015, an unprecedented West Coast-wide harmful algal bloom (HAB) extended from the Gulf of Alaska to southern California. The bloom was composed of Pseudo-nitzschia, a toxigenic diatom that has the ability to produce domoic acid, a potent neurotoxin that can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) and threaten human health if affected shellfish are consumed. These satellite images show chlorophyll-a estimates averaged over the periods of March 27-31, 2015 (left panel), and May, 6-8, 2015 (right panel). For more information, consult Figure App.D.7.3 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.
Nutrients
Trend: Nitrate profile (PnB)
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Nitrate concentrations (NO3 μmol/L) at Plumes and Blooms sampling station #4 (34°15.01’N, 119°54.38’W, see Figure D6.2) for (a) 1997-2015; and (b) 2009-2015, a subset of Figure D6.6a of the years since the last condition report. While station #4 is outside the sanctuary boundary and there are other sampling sites within the sanctuary, it is the only sampling site that collects measurements throughout the water column, versus from just surface waters. This time-depth contour plot was generated via ordinary krigging with a generalized exponential-Bessel fitting model (GLOBEC Kriging Software Package v3.0), with interpolation length scales of 30 days (time axis) and ten meters (depth axis). The time and location of each actual sample are shown as black dots, allowing the observation of periods where data gaps exist. For more information, consult Figure App.D.6.5 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.
Trend: Phosphate profile (PnB)
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Phosphate concentration (PO4 μg/L) at Plumes and Blooms sampling station #4 (34°15.01’N, 119°54.38’W, see Figure D6.2) for (a) 1997-2015; and (b) 2009-2015 a subset of Figure D6.7a of the years since the last condition report. While station #4 is outside the sanctuary boundary and there are other sampling sites within the sanctuary, it is the only sampling site that collects measurements throughout the water column, versus from just surface waters. This time-depth contour plot was generated via ordinary krigging with a generalized exponential-Bessel fitting model (GLOBEC Kriging Software Package v3.0), with interpolation length scales of 30 days (time axis) and ten meters (depth axis). The time and location of each actual sample are shown as black dots, allowing the observation of periods where data gaps exist. Figure: Siegel et al. submitted. Plumes and Blooms: http://www.oceancolor.ucsb.edu/plumes_and_blooms For more information, consult Figure App.D.6.6 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.
Note: This is variant of a similar figure shown during the expert workshop.
Trend: Nitrate anomaly
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Monthly anomalies in (top panel) observed bottom temperature (°C) at 7-10 meters depth and (bottom panel) modeled bottom nitrate concentrations (μmol/L) at 7-10 meters depth along the Santa Barbara Channel mainland nearshore (nine sampling sites roughly spanning from Gaviota east to Ventura). The anomalously warm years of 2014-2015 are shown in red. Similar trends were seen at the islands. For more information, consult Figure App.D.6.7 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.
Basin Scale Indicies
Trend: ONI, PDO, NPGO
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Three indices of climate and ocean conditions in the North Pacific Basin shifted in 2014 from conditions promoting high primary productivity to less productive conditions. The Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) indicates the presence/absence of El Niño conditions with positive anomaly values (red) denoting El Niño conditions and negative values denoting La Niña conditions. The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) index is related to North Pacific sea surface temperature with cold regimes (blue) associated with higher productivity and warmer regimes (red) associated with lower productivity. The North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO) is influenced by sea level and circulation patterns. Positive values of the NPGO (red) are linked to stronger currents and higher productivity while negative values (blue) are linked to weaker currents and lower productivity. The graphs show the long-term mean (0) ± 3.0 standard deviations based on the full time series. For more information, consult Figure App.D.8.3 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.
Seafloor Temperature
Upwelling Index
Wave Height & Direction
Sea Level Height
Air Temperature
pH
Dissolved Oxygen
Depth of Anoxic Layer